Agenda - May 2012 County Council Meeting

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Date:
14/05/2012 15:30
Location:
Council Chamber
Standing Orders:

Headed Items

H-I (1)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

CONFIRMATION  AND  RE-AFFIRMATION  OF  MINUTES

Minutes of County Council Meeting 16th April 2012

H-I (2)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Roads Department, Housing Administration, Planning Not is use

REPORTS  OF  AREA  COMMITTEES

a)   Rathfarnham Area Committee - 10th April 2012

Dealing with Planning, Corporate Services & Libraries, Community (1 report - Community Grants), Housing, Parks, Environment, Roads, Development & Water Services

(circulated herewith)

b)   Tallaght Area Committee (1) - 23rd April 2012

Dealing with Community (1 report - Community Grants), Environment, Parks, Housing 

(circulated herewith) 

c)   Tallaght Area Committee (2) - 23rd April, 2012

Dealing with Roads, Development & Water Services, Planning, Corporate Services & Libraries

(no reports)

d)   Clondalkin Area Committee - 18th April 2012

Dealing with Community (1 report - Community Grants), Parks, Environment, Housing, Planning, Roads, Development & Water Services, Corporate Services & Libraries

(circulated herewith)

e)   Lucan  Area Committee – 24th April 2012

- Dealing with Planning, Corporate Services & Libraries, Community, Housing, Parks, Environment, Roads, Development & Water Services

(no reports)

H-I (3)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

STANDING COMMITTEES - ORGANISATION, PROCEDURE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

(H3 no reports)

H-I (4)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Teresa Walsh, Billy Coman, John Quinlivan, Frank Nevin, Sorcha O'Brien

STRATEGIC  POLICY  COMMITTEES

a)  Environment Strategic Policy Committee

(i)  Report 1st May 2012

(ii) Minutes 6th February 2012

b)  Joint Economic Development/Transportation Strategic Policy Committee (to discuss H.G.V.s)

Report 2nd May 2012

(all circulated herewith)

H-I (5)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:

REPORTS  REQUESTED  BY  AREA  COMMITTEES

(H5 no reports)

Questions

Qu (1)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Duff
Responsibility:
Colin Ryan

To ask the Manager to detail the conditions for advertising signs being erected by Estate Agents and Auctioneers; the sanctions for unapproved signs being erected;  how these sanctions are applied and if they are applied fairly across the County and if he will make a statement on the matter?

Qu (2)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Duff
Responsibility:
Maire Ni Dhomhnaill

Would the Manager give a general update on the Tidy Towns campaign across the County and in Tallaght in particular and if she is satisified that the campaign is fully supported across all communities?

Qu (3)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Gilligan
Responsibility:
Michael Hannon, Brian Sheehan

To ask the Manager what the view is to install a 'Dog Park' in parks throughout the county. Mainly Corkagh Park and Griffeen Valley? similar to what is in Marlay Park (DLRCoCo)

Qu (4)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Higgins
Responsibility:
Seamus Fagan, Laura Leonard, William Purcell

To ask the Manager to outline the process by which the selected route (once published) for the proposed upgraded N81 is written in to the County Development Plan and to explain what level of consultation there will be with members of the public, in particular residents living along the proposed route, and elected representatives?

Qu (5)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. Kenny
Responsibility:
Michael Fagan

Can the council state how many Housing Finance Agency loans they are presently adminstrating and what is average length of the loan in terms of years?

Qu (6)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. King
Responsibility:
Mary Hayes

To ask the Manager, is it envisaged that a similar number and type of Housing Maintenance requests will be dealt with this year as was delivered last year based on the similar budget that was passed by this Council last December and can the Manager make a statement on the matter?

Qu (7)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
Frank Nevin

To ask the Manager, further to the motion agreed at the April meeting regarding Weston Airport, to outline the steps have been taken since to engage with the Kildare County Manager, NAMA and relevant government departments as requested in the motion?

Qu (8)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
John O'Connor

To ask the Manager, further to the motion agreed at the January meeting, to report on the council’s review of outdated signage for capital construction projects and superfluous signage and other urban clutter in Architectural Conservation Areas?

Qu (9)
Submitted by:
Councillor B. Lawlor
Responsibility:
John Quinlivan, Colm Ward

To ask the Manager how much this council has contributed to the pre-construction costs of the Poolbeg incinerator?

Qu (10)
Submitted by:
Councillor B. Lawlor
Responsibility:
Colin Ryan

To ask the Manager to explain, the difference between a Part 8 Planning process and the standard planning process and the length of time that each granted permission  can last?

Qu (11)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Looney
Responsibility:
Colm Ward

To ask the Manager, in light of recent changes to the fire service, to confirm who is liable to pay a call-out fee in the event of a person reporting a fire in another property, and to make a statement on the matter?

Qu (12)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Looney
Responsibility:
Clodagh Henehan, Brian Martin

To ask the Manager to report on how many households are in distress with a Local Authority Loan/Mortgage in the SDCC area; what proportion of the total loan book this applies to; what supports are offered to households in such distress; what, if any, legal actions have been taken by SDCC to date; and to make a statement on the matter?

Qu (13)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Looney
Responsibility:
John McLoughlin

To ask the Manager to provide an update on the "walk-or-cycle-to-school" / "walk-or-cycle-to-college" initiative proposed by this Councillor at the June 2011 Council meeting and passed by the Council (M11/0611); to detail all work done in progressing this initiative in the last nine months, and to make a statement on the matter?

Qu (14)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Larry Kelly

To ask the Manager for a report on the payment of the Household Charge in the County  on an Area Committee basis,and in particular, what percentage of householders have paid it to date? 

Qu (15)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Anne Byrne - Community, Sarah O'Gorman

To ask the Manager for a report on the number and percentages of persons on the unemployment register in this County on an Area Committee basis for each of the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and currently?

Qu (16)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Brian Sheehan

To ask the Manager for a progress report on the operation of the fishing facility in Corkagh Park to include the opening days and hours winter and summer, number of patrons in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and if the Manager would comment on the facility?

Qu (17)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Caitriona Lambert

To ask the Manager for a report on the level of maintenance of the M50 between the County Boundary with Fingal County and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County and in particular on the maintenance of the boundary fence and if she is aware of attempts to burn the fence at Palmers Manor and if other areas have been similarly targeted and what options are open to this County to protect nearby residential areas from such acts of vandalism and what resource residents may have, given that the Motorway is not being maintained by the Council, to protect and defend their rights?

Qu (18)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Tony O Grady, Brian Sheehan

To ask the Manager for a report on the planned maintenance (for 2012 with the allocation) of the median (where it exists) and the grass margins on the National and Local Primary and Secondary Roads and the cost of this work in 2009, 2010 and 2011?

Qu (19)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Brendan Hynes, Hugh Hogan, Michael Fagan, Patricia Doherty

To ask the Manager if she will provide an up to date report on the implementation of the two Projects started in 2010 under the Mayor's Initiative, ie the Balgaddy Project and the MacUiliam Estate Project in Tallaght?

Qu (20)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Clodagh Henehan, Larry Kelly

To ask the Manager if she will provide information on the level of the Commercial Rate, ie the multiplier factor, in each of the following years - 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012?

Qu (21)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Neil O'Byrne

To ask the Manager if she will provide a report on the Council's plan to set up a Biodiversity Forum?

Qu (22)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Paul Hogan

To ask the Manager to make a report on variations to the County Development Plan 2010-2016, and new Local Area Plans,  which have already been adopted by the elected members or which are currently in a formal process?

Headed Items

H-I (6)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Roads Department

DECLARATION  OF  ROADS  TO  BE  PUBLIC  ROADS

Adamstown Avenue & Station Road

(circulated herewith)

H-I (7)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Housing Administration, Development, Econ. & Transport Planning Dept., Patricia Doherty

PROPOSED  DISPOSAL  OF  PROPERTIES / SITES

(all circulated herewith)

b) Proposed disposal of Fee Simple Interest in Former Local Authority Dwellings - 8 St. Patricks Cottages, Rathfarnham


c) Proposed Disposal of 51 Units at  Fortunestown Lane  to Oaklee Housing Trust Ltd.


a) Proposed Disposal of Affordable Dwellings

(no reports)

H-I (8)
Submitted by:
Community Services
Responsibility:
Billy Coman

ESTATE MANAGEMENT & COMMUNITY FORA UPDATE

(circulated herewith)

H-I (9)
Submitted by:
Mary Maguire
Responsibility:

PRESENTATION from CONNECT IRELAND

H9  1st Item after tea break (5.20 pm)  

Correspondence

Cor (1)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Letter, dated 12th April 2012, from NSAI regarding Waste Disposal Providers Vehicles and Weights & Measures Compliance (M7/0312)

Cor (2)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Letters, dated 17th April 2012, from Offaly County Council regarding          (i) Salaries, Pensions to Managers and Directors of Banks and Semi-State Bodies;  (ii) Reforming the Pension Scheme for Ministers and T.D.s 

Cor (3)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Letter, dated 19th April 2012, from Galway County Council regarding introduction of a National Water Company

Cor (4)
Submitted by:
Mary Maguire
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Letter, dated 25th April 2012, from NAMA regarding Weston 

Cor (5)
Submitted by:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

Letter, dated 2nd May 2012, from Donegal County Council regarding  unemployed individuals and Social Welfare Payments

Motions

Mot (1)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Jones
Responsibility:
Willie Sheils, Mary Maguire, Sorcha O'Brien, Maria Donohoe, Ronan Heron

Mayors Business

That this council supports the introduction of a charter that will state principles of co-operation and community among schools and associated personnel operating within South Dublin and that this council will actively seek relevant bodies as signatories to the charter.

Mot (2)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Jones
Responsibility:
Mary Maguire

Mayors Business

That this Council appeals to the Government to reverse the recent change in policy of the Revenue Commissioners whereby service providers such as ACTS (Accessible Community Transport Southside) will no longer avail of the tax exemptions that enable them to continue to be viable.

Mot (3)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Jones
Responsibility:
Kenneth Clayton

Mayors Business

That this Council will show good environmental practice by trialling electric vehicles within the fleet.

Mot (4)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
Colm Ward

That this Council requests a review of the workings of the Operation Crews with a view to implementing more effective and more frequent cleansing of prioritised litter black-spots.

Mot (5)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Devine
Responsibility:
Corporate Performance and Change Management Directorate

That this Council expresses its dismay at the lack of filling two fundamental Garda positions of Inspector & Chief Inspector and convey to the Commissioner that this situation is insupportable

Mot (6)
Submitted by:
Councillor G. O'Connell
Responsibility:
Mary Maguire

That this Council requests that the Manager write to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government asking that he fundamentally review and revise the current Household Charge so as to (a) make it more possible for those who respect and obey the laws of the land to comply with it (b) to include a realistic waiver system that will address the plight of those who find payment in the current climate a hardship  (c) provide an amnesty and extended closing date for payment without penalty for those who have not paid  before the fixed date (31.3.12), (d) extend the method of payment to include “over the counter” in Post Offices and (e) guarantee that funds raised locally through the charge will be spent locally, i.e. will be allocated in their entirety to the relevant Local Authority for its use.

Mot (7)
Submitted by:
Councillor B. Lawlor
Responsibility:
John McLoughlin

That this council install solar speed indicators near schools throughout SDCC to act as a deterrent to speeding motorists. 

Mot (8)
Submitted by:
Councillor P. Cosgrave
Responsibility:
Georgina Byrne

That the Manager give a report on the awarding of the Libraries book supply contract to the English supplier “Bertram’s”. The contract was awarded on a points system that the cheapest supplier of books would win the contract, not on a better supply service which Irish companies provide.

Mot (9)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. Bond
Responsibility:
Mary Maguire

That this Council is opposed to charging householders for the installation of water meters.

Mot (10)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. King
Responsibility:
Clodagh Henehan, Larry Kelly

That this Council calls on the Manager not to avail of the powers given to this Council under section 14 of the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 which provides access to information held by utility Companies for the purpose of identifying potential liability to the household charge.

Mot (11)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Mary Maguire

That this Council is disappointed at the failure of the present and previous Government to publish a national Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, as promised by Government as long ago as 2007 and requests the Manager to convey this view to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and urge him to publish the Adaptation Strategy at an early date.

Mot (12)
Submitted by:
Councillor D. Looney
Responsibility:
Maria O'Neill, Mary Maguire

That this Council calls on the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to set in place a Boundary Committee for Local Electoral Areas as soon as possible; to ask such a committee/s to report by January 2013; and to consider fixing local electoral boundaries for a set period with alterations made to seat numbers rather than boundaries unless necessary.

Mot (13)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Coburn
Responsibility:
Clodagh Henehan, Laura Leonard

That this council discuss with the aid of a report the impact of the public lighting overspend for 2011, the likely underforecast in the 2012 budget and the impact this will have for the overall 2012 budget spend.

Mot (14)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Higgins
Responsibility:
Andrew O'Mullane

Given the precident set by the passing of motion 11 at the November 2010 Rathfarnham Area Committee, that the Manager confirm that it is possible to amend the Control of Parking Bye Laws 2010 in accordance with the passing of motion 20 at the March Lucan Area Committee Meeting and report on how to amend these regulations.

Mot (15)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Lahart
Responsibility:
John Quinlivan, John Healy

That the Manager presents a detailed breakdown of the costs of Consultants (€250,000) and the legal costs (€150,000) incurred as part of the Council's sale of the bin service; to justify these costs; and to provide a comprehensive report on why consultants were engaged and to explain the role of the Council's Law Agent in the sale process 

Mot (16)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Devine
Responsibility:
Colm Ward

That the Manager give a report on the Litter Bins in the County detailing how many there are and if collecters have experienced an upsurge in the dumping of domestic waste in or around them. Have any been removed or moved since the privatization of the Waste service last April?

Mot (17)
Submitted by:
Councillor W. Lavelle
Responsibility:
Paul Hogan

That this council recommends that the proposed Sustainable Energy Action Plan should include a detailed multi-year plan for a phased approach (with clear & realistic targets) to incrementally increase the percentage of public lighting columns in the county using energy-saving technology.

Mot (18)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Higgins
Responsibility:
Frank Nevin, Paul Hogan, Mary Maguire

That the Manager provide a County-wide analysis of the latest results of the census and advise as to how the findings of the 2011 Census are informing Council policy and decision making processes

Mot (19)
Submitted by:
Councillor J. Lahart
Responsibility:
Georgina Byrne

That the manager present a report on the recently awarded contract (worth €600,000 for the supply of books to Dublin County Libraries detailed what company was awarded the contract and why an Irish Company failed to secure the contract resulting in the potential loss of jobs and money to the home economy

Mot (20)
Submitted by:
Councillor E. Tuffy
Responsibility:
Willie Sheils, Frank Nevin

That this Committee fully supports the Manager's Sustaining and Developing Business Initiative, notes the content of the Action Plan for Jobs 2012, particularly the content of Chapter 2 Supporting Indigenous Start Ups and Action 2.5 relating to a new Community Enterprise Development Programme and new Community Enterprise Centres, asks the Manager to present to the Meeting a summary report on the current position in respect of the Council's involvement in community based Enterprise Centres in the County, and requests the Manager to pursue, with Enterprise Ireland and in the context of the Action Plan for Jobs, the realization of additional Community Enterprise Centres in the County, particularly in those parts of the County where there are at present no Community Enterprise Centres.